Lake Wales, Florida Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Lake Wales, Florida: median public in-state tuition $29,992 (+444.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $46,086 (-15.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 82.4% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $22,250 (+67.7% vs U.S.) 778 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 778 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $29,992 (+444.1% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $46,086 (-15.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 82.4% (-5.6 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $21,230 (+113.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $22,250 (+67.7% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 42.1%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 43.9%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Lake Wales serve students across Florida with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 778 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $29,992. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Lake Wales, Florida and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Lake Wales vs Florida & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Wales, Florida | $29,992 | $21,230 | $22,250 | 42.1% | 778 |
| Florida (state median) | $3,110 | $7,247 | $13,000 | 53.0% | 855,761 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Lake Wales, Florida vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Wales, Florida | $46,086 | 82.4% | 43.9% | 10.4% | — | 49.0% | 0.48 |
| Florida (state median) | $49,232 | 82.9% | 75.6% | 5.5% | — | 65.3% | 0.41 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Florida (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Wales, Florida | $29,992 | $21,230 | $22,250 | 42.1% | 778 | $46,086 | 82.4% |
| Orlando | $17,408 | $18,176 | $13,097 | 38.9% | 110,503 | $65,295 | 83.1% |
| Miami | $15,868 | $18,120 | $9,500 | 54.8% | 107,556 | $55,966 | 84.7% |
| Tampa | $18,145 | $19,484 | $13,000 | 48.9% | 74,134 | $40,092 | 79.2% |
| Gainesville | $5,128 | $15,692 | $15,000 | 84.7% | 52,208 | $71,588 | 88.7% |
| Gainesville | $5,128 | $15,692 | $15,000 | 84.7% | 52,208 | $71,588 | 88.7% |
| Tallahassee | $5,720 | $11,297 | $13,500 | 53.3% | 51,736 | $53,012 | 89.1% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $25,056 | $22,838 | $24,149 | 61.0% | 50,305 | $46,933 | 80.6% |
| Jacksonville | $15,733 | $21,981 | $13,000 | 35.5% | 41,036 | $56,343 | 87.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Lake Wales, Florida by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 42.1%, Warner University
Warner University
Top college in Lake Wales, Florida by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 82.4%, Warner University
Warner University
Most selective college in Lake Wales, Florida (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 42.8%, Warner University
Warner University
Top college in Lake Wales, Florida by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $44,154, Warner University
Warner University
Top college in Lake Wales, Florida by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $56,429, Warner University
Warner University
Top college in Lake Wales, Florida by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,589, Warner University
Warner University
Top college in Lake Wales, Florida by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $39,098, Warner University
Warner University
Top college in Lake Wales, Florida by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,086, Warner University
Warner University
Top college in Lake Wales, Florida by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $107,968, Warner University
Warner University
Most affordable college in Lake Wales, Florida (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $19,748, Warner University
Warner University
Top college in Lake Wales, Florida by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 43.9%, Warner University
Warner University
In-state tuition: Lake Wales, Florida vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Lake Wales, Florida median in-state tuition is $29,992, +444.1% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Lake Wales, Florida vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Lake Wales, Florida is $22,250 (+67.7% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Lake Wales, Florida vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Lake Wales, Florida center around $46,086 (-15.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Lake Wales, Florida vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 82.4% at the median Lake Wales, Florida campus (-5.6 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Lake Wales, Florida median public in-state tuition is $29,992, about +444.1% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +500.8%.
Median graduate debt is $22,250 (+67.7% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Lake Wales, Florida are $46,086, about -15.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 82.4% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-5.6 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 43.9% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 10.4% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 49.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Warner University (82.4%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Lake Wales, Florida is 42.1% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Lake Wales?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Lake Wales, Florida with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Lake Wales?
Median in-state tuition in Lake Wales is $29,992 and median net price is $21,230. For Florida overall, medians are $3,110 and $7,247; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Lake Wales?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Lake Wales is $46,086 vs $49,232 for Florida and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Lake Wales colleges?
Median completer debt in Lake Wales is $22,250 vs $13,000 for Florida and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Lake Wales?
Top campuses on this page include Warner University (graduation) and Warner University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Lake Wales?
Among 2 campuses in Lake Wales, Florida, 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Ruben's Five Star Academy; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Church of God (1).
Sources & related
- Florida college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON